and too many bad examples, on every side, encourage us to go with the multitude, and do as they do. So that the battle

between the flesh and the spirit must inevi tably end in the defeat of the latter, unless it be strengthened and supported by that faith which was revealed from heaven, for the express purpose of "giving us the victory through JESUS CHRIST our LORD." "But, if ye be led by the spirit, ye are "not under the law." Notwithstanding, however, this great power of the flesh; the christian who puts on "the whole armour "of GOD," or the spiritual religion of JESUS CHRIST, will be able to stand in the " evil day ;" and come off from the field of battle more than conqueror."

He will subdue the law of the flesh," which worketh in him to the destruction of his. soul; not by any strength of his own, but through the power of that grace which is ever afforded to those, who seek it in faith and practice, by prayer and a good life; a grace which will enable him to "deny all "ungodliness and worldly lusts; and to live righteously, godly, and soberly, in this present world." That we require this assist-ance, in preserving us from the temptations and trials of the flesh, will be sufficiently evident, from the account, which the apostle

next gives, of the wicked practices to which the flesh is inclined. "Now the works of "the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, emulations, 66 wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, "murders, drunkenness, and such like." This, my friends, is a very black list of crimes; and many will be apt to think, that it is doing injustice to human nature to attribute such things to it; but I fear, that if we do but honestly" search out the plagues "of our own hearts," we shall find, that the seeds of them are to be found within them. I do not mean to say, that we are all guilty of these wicked practices; because, there are many (blessed be GOD) who, through an humble endeavour to become good christians, and by the influence of the Holy Spirit rewarding that endeavour, have, in a great measure, conquered the flesh, "and the lusts thereof;" and become" new

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"" creatures,' in CHRIST JESUS; and because the different vices and temptations to vice, will be different among men, according to their various situations in life; so that one man may have no inclination to that sin which holds another in slavery; while, on the contrary, the latter may be free from that bad disposition or habit, which rules over

the former. Thus, for instance, a rich man, from his situation in life, which affords him abundance of all things, will, perhaps, feel no inclination to deprive another, unjustly, of his property; which a poor man may be inclined to do, in order to supply his wants: while, on the other hand, the poor man will find no propensity to that emulation, strife, envying, and so forth, which the thirst of ambition, or the love of money, will produce in the rich and great man. In like manner, he who is infirm, and sick, and aged, will have no propensity to those impure practices which the young, and strong, and healthy, are too much given to follow; while, at the same time, the profligate may not be subject to the vices of discontent, murmuring, ma lignity, covetousness, and such like, which tyrannise over the other. I only mean to assert, therefore, that the human heart has the seeds of all the vices common to our fallen nature within it; and that according as those particular temptations, which are suitable to our conditions of life, and to our pursuits and inclinations, are presented to the heart; so those temptations lead, with certainty, to the commission of the favourite sin, unless the conduct be guarded by the religious principle; by a full faith in JESUS. CHRIST; and a firm resolution to keep his

commandments, rendered effectual by the grace of God.

To obtain this faith, therefore, which is made perfect by holiness, should be our great and chief concern; since it is the only means, by which we may be preserved from those" works of the flesh," which will, as-. suredly, bring us to everlasting destruction; for, the apostle goes on to remind the Galatian's, and all other christians, "that they "which do such things, shall not inherit "the kingdom of GOD." Strongly inclined, as we all are, to listen to the call of sin, it requires the most powerful motives to prevent us from leading a willing ear to it; and those have been mercifully supplied to us by our Maker and Saviour.

We

have reason, to tell us, that all bad practices are contrary to our best interest here upon earth; to our health, credit, peace of mind, and success in life. We have conscience, to inform us, that they are contrary to our duty as reasonable and accountable creatures. We have the gospel, which promises to us the greatest blessings and enjoyments hereafter, such as eye hath not seen, nor "ear heard, nor the heart conceived," if we forbear from practising them; and which threatens us with everlasting punishment, if we indulge in them; so that, "to fulfil the

lusts of the flesh," in defiance of all those motives and checks, must render us unpardonable even in our own eyes, and oblige us, to confess the justice of that sentence of the apostle, who has pronounced, that those "who do such things, shall not inherit "the kingdom of GOD." Indeed, if we reflect for a moment, we shall perceive, that those, who are given up to "the works of "the flesh," are not only undeserving of heaven, but would also receive no happiness or enjoyment there, even if they were translated into it. Where would be the delight, for instance, of the unclean and impure man, whose thoughts and time upon earth had been given up to lasciviousness and unchastity; if he were removed into those holy regions, "where" (according to the description of them given in the book of Revelation,) "there shall in no wise enter

any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever "worketh abomination?" How could he, whose mouth has been filled with profane language, and whose lips have poured forth blasphemy here below, find any satisfaction in the society of blessed spirits, whose chief employment is the praise and adoration of the Most High; and saying, "Holy,

holy, holy, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, who "was, and is, and is to come?" Could